Nimrod

Nimrod

They are always so fine and full of life
our dead boys
a smiling photograph
of particular beauty,perfect young men
sunshine in their eyes ,windruffled hair
their loss so loud it's the whole orchestra
layers of sound,brass and percussion
measure steps from the aircraft
tears at the Cenotaph
a boy carrying Dad's beret

parents bleak with disbelief
bravely mention duty and sacrifice
he saved his whole patrol
he will not grow old as we grow old

In another England
a dark underworld climbs out of rockshade
bipedal evil
selfish savagery, mindless ,spiteful
gun and knifeful
to imitate a man
roaming gangs murder children
on a whim
their victims cry out
"I'm just 15 what did I do?"
so what is a man then
what is a man